Final answer:
The question deals with how sensory feedback can modify a central pattern generator's output in the CNS. Sensory receptors like proprioreceptors play a pivotal role in detecting environmental changes and informing the CNS, which adapts the motor output accordingly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses the concept of how sensory feedback can modify the activity of a central pattern generator. The central pattern generator is a neurological mechanism in the central nervous system that produces rhythmic patterned outputs without sensory feedback. However, sensory feedback can influence these outputs and result in adjustments to the motor patterns based on the stimuli received from the environment. Sensory receptors, such as proprioreceptors and chemoreceptors, play a crucial role in detecting changes in the internal and external environment and converting these into signals that the central nervous system can understand and react to.
For instance, during physical activity, increased firing rates from proprioreceptors will prompt the cardiovascular centers to adjust heart rate and blood flow to support the activity level. This demonstrates an interactive process between the sensory systems and motor outputs, with sensory perceptions leading to responses through motor processing. The central nervous system integrates information from both higher cognitive functions and sensory inputs to produce a coherent motor output, illustrating the importance of sensory feedback in modifying central pattern generation.